THE Biography of Original Artist ~ 2004 - 2010 Chronicles
Written By Angela Schermerhorn
“Nobody’s interested in new music. NO ONE is going to watch some unknown songwriter - some unknown music…hmmph…people don’t like music they’ve never heard. This show will never work” - said a certain president of 20th FOX/Television in my first Original Artist national pitch at FOX tower in Beverly Hills CA - 2010.
“BUT. BUT. but.. I have PROOF that they do. I have dominating ratings! “ - said me (Angela) .
2010 Synopsis - Pitched to FOX featuring show footage and ratings performances
During the years of pitching this original music concept , receiving countless (national TV network) rejections…Original Artist gained a proven history of Saturday night primetime rating “pilot” performances in multiple markets, since the 2005 inception. Reluctantly, Greg Meidel (20th/ FOX) considered the songwriter concept and agreed to “pick up” the show (included with ever-evolving hoops to jump through.
Originally, in 2004, The 13 week contest was called Shooting Star - (named after BAD CO.’s song about songwriter that made the big time) . Subsequently the project was renamed with a more fitting ORIGINAL ARTIST name in 2009.
I still posses the 2004 FIRST show’s laminated pass!
This creation launched in 2004, while I was working for Clear Channel Television and developing advertising campaigns.
I discovered that there was tremendous branding power in music for my clients!
I didn’t miss a chance to get songwriters to write and record branding songs for my clients and their products. These developed music campaigns were growing product sales and recognition for all of the music branding clients.
the day of revelation
In 2004, I was blow drying my hair - a frequent and favorite routine of mine to talk to, and to hear from God. I was thinking about the new popular show, (1st season) American Idol.
HE interrupted “ You know what’s missing ? …their own music. Originality.” A very clear streaming message from the Original Artist HIMSELF - the Creator; gifted a massive download of details in a vision of the original music competition, including specifics of a *prime time tv network broadcast, the utlilizing of local radio program director as judges and *four separate music genres and their sub-genres.
After my hair was dry,I dove into the creation and sponsorship fundraising which won the thumbs up by management and corporate within a couple of weeks.
One jump led to another and I and my business partner opened a music branding and advertising agency, Herd Records, thanks to my biz partner’s build of a fabulous recording studio. These years allowed me to produce multiple “pilots”on various regional tv network affiliates in tested markets. The primetime ratings continued to CRUSH every other network’s ratings including their own across ABC, NBC, and FOX Saturday primetime affiliates!
Still not convinced that the series would be a success, Meidel / FOX eventually “pulled the show” and the contract ended.
Coincidentally, I watched in tears as the next season of American Idol strangely featured every concept (except originalmusic) that I had written into the episodic rollout OF the OA first season. OUCH!
Devastated, but VERY thankful (years later) for all of the rejections, I moved onto “other things” knowing that I would never want to deal with Hollywood and the deception therein for a loooooong while, if ever again.
Since then, The ORIGINAL Original Artist , Our Creator, called me to a much larger mission; To work to restore the survivors of child sex trafficking.
Now, 13 years after the last Birmingham market show, and exactly one week after the last SkippyDeeDooDah.com fundraiser event…. I was blow drying my hair, again.
He spoke to me. Again.
This Original Artist resurrection , this win-win platform of this great idea has a much greater purpose. In addition to honoring and celebrating our beautiful songwriters, the GREATER mission of raising awareness and funds the AFTERCARE for survivors of child sex trafficking.
My hopes, my belief, is that the purchased download votes and other donations will fund our aftercare partners, which will heal multiple souls of those that were never defended and protected, the survivors of child sex trafficking
concept registered with WGAW
Our studio feature of Herd Records/Herd Branding - 2010
